Information processing system, information processing apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing apparatus and method by which the operability in connection to a network can be improved. A camcorder  11  establishes a connection to a network system  14  through a Bluetooth adapter  12  and a public network  13,  performs user registration into the network system  14  and receives provision of an ID and a password from the network system  14.  The ID and the password are transmitted to and registered into a customer database  52  of an Internet service provider A  17,  and also transmitted to and registered into a camcorder image station  41  of a network service business center  15.  When the camcorder  11  establishes a connection to the network system  14,  when the camcorder  11  establishes a connection to the Internet service provider A  17  and when the camcorder  11  establishes a connection to the network service business center  15,  the common ID and password can be used. The present invention can be applied to a service providing system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processingsystem, an information processing apparatus and method, and moreparticularly to an information processing system, an informationprocessing apparatus and method by which a common ID can be used toaccess a plurality of servers through a network.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration of a conventionalservice providing system. In this service providing system, a personalcomputer 1 is connected to a server 2-1 or 2-2 or an Internet serviceprovider (ISP) 2-3. In order to connect the personal computer 1 to theserver 2-1, the server 2-1 utilizes a customer ID 1 and a customerpassword 1 set upon user registration in the server 2-1. Similarly, inorder to access the server 2-2, a customer ID 2 and a customer password2 set upon user registration in the server 2-2 are used. Further, inorder to access the server 2-2, a customer nickname is also used.

[0003] Further, in order to access the Internet service provider 2-3, adial-up ID and a dial-up password issued upon user registration in theInternet service provider 2-3 and a POP (Post Office Protocol) ID and aPOP password are used.

[0004] In this manner, when the user of the personal computer 1 tries toaccess the server 2-1 or 2-2 or the Internet service provider 2-3 andconnect further to the Internet from there, it suitably and selectivelyuses the customer IDs, customer passwords, customer nicknames, dial-upIDs, dial-up passwords, POP IDs, POP passwords and so forth setindividually upon user registration.

[0005] In the conventional service providing system, since different IDsand passwords must be selectively used for individual accessdestinations in this manner, the user must take notes of the IDs andpasswords of the individual access destinations, and this isinconvenient to the user. Further, even if the ID and the password of anaccess destination which is accessed frequently can be memorized, theuser is likely to forget the ID and the password of another accessdestination which is accessed but seldom, and therefore, in order toaccess the access destination, the user must search for the notes andconfirm the ID and the password. Thus, there is a subject that rapidaccessing is difficult.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such a situationas described above and allows common use of an ID and a password for aplurality of common accessing destinations thereby to improve theoperability.

[0007] A first information processing system of the present invention ischaracterized in that first access information necessitated when a firstone of information processing apparatus accesses a second one of theinformation processing apparatus and second access informationnecessitated when the first information processing apparatus accesses athird one of the information processing apparatus are common.

[0008] The access information may include an ID and a password.

[0009] The second information processing apparatus may issue the accessinformation when a user of the first information processing apparatus isregistered into the second information processing apparatus, and thethird information processing apparatus may issue the access informationwhen the user is registered into the third information processingapparatus in order to provide a predetermined service to the user of thefirst information processing apparatus.

[0010] The access information may be used further as third accessinformation necessitated when a fourth one of the information processingapparatus provides a predetermined service to the user of the firstinformation processing apparatus.

[0011] A first information processing apparatus of the present inventionis characterized in that it includes acceptance means for acceptingpersonal information of a user of a first different informationprocessing apparatus, storage means for storing the personal informationaccepted by the acceptance means, issuance means for issuing an IDcorresponding to the personal information accepted by the acceptancemeans, and transmission means for transmitting the ID issued by theissuance means to a second different information processing apparatusthrough a network.

[0012] A first information processing method of the present invention ischaracterized in that it includes an acceptance step of acceptingpersonal information of a user of a first information processingapparatus, a storage step of storing the personal information acceptedby the process of the acceptance step, an issuance step of issuing an IDcorresponding to the personal information accepted by the process of theacceptance step, and a transmission step of transmitting the ID issuedby the process of the issuance step to a second information processingapparatus through a network.

[0013] A first recording medium of the present invention ischaracterized in that a program includes an acceptance step of acceptingpersonal information of a user of a first information processingapparatus, a storage step of storing the personal information acceptedby the process of the acceptance step, an issuance step of issuing an IDcorresponding to the personal information accepted by the process of theacceptance step, and a transmission step of transmitting the ID issuedby the process of the issuance step to a second information processingapparatus through a network.

[0014] A first program of the present invention causes a computer toexecute an acceptance step of accepting personal information of a userof a first information processing apparatus, a storage step of storingthe personal information accepted by the process of the acceptance step,an issuance step of issuing an ID corresponding to the personalinformation accepted by the process of the acceptance step, and atransmission step of transmitting the ID issued by the process of theissuance step to a second information processing apparatus through anetwork.

[0015] A second information processing apparatus is characterized inthat it includes reception means for receiving, from a second differentinformation processing apparatus in which personal information of a userof a first different information processing apparatus is registered, thepersonal information through a network, control means for controllingthe first different information processing apparatus to display at leastpart of the personal information received by the reception means forregistration of the user of the first different information processingapparatus, confirmation means for acquiring confirmation of the userwith regard to registration of the user based on at least part of thepersonal information displayed on the first different informationprocessing apparatus, registration means for registering the user basedon the personal information received by the reception means in responseto the confirmation by the confirmation means, issuance means forissuing an ID to the user, and production means for producing a tablewherein the ID issued by the issuance means is matched with an ID and apassword issued by the second different information processing apparatusand included in the personal information received by the receptionmeans.

[0016] The information processing apparatus may further includerequesting means for requesting, where an ID is issued already to theuser of the first different information processing apparatus, the firstinformation processing apparatus to match the ID issued already and theID by the second information processing apparatus with each other.

[0017] A second information processing method of the present inventionis characterized in that it includes a reception step of receiving, froma second information processing apparatus in which personal informationof a user of a first information processing apparatus is registered, thepersonal information through a network, a control step of controllingthe first information processing apparatus to display at least part ofthe personal information received by the process of the reception stepfor registration of the user of the first information processingapparatus, a confirmation step of acquiring confirmation of the userwith regard to registration of the user based on at least part of thepersonal information displayed on the first information processingapparatus, a registration step of registering the user based on thepersonal information received by the process of the reception step inresponse to the confirmation by the process of the confirmation step, anissuance step of issuing an ID to the user, and a production step ofproducing a table wherein the ID issued by the process of the issuancestep is matched with an ID issued by the second information processingapparatus and included in the personal information received by theprocess of the reception step.

[0018] A second recording medium of the present invention ischaracterized in that a program includes a reception step of receiving,from a second information processing apparatus in which personalinformation of a user of a first information processing apparatus isregistered, the personal information through a network, a control stepof controlling the first information processing apparatus to display atleast part of the personal information received by the process of thereception step for registration of the user of the first informationprocessing apparatus, a confirmation step of acquiring confirmation ofthe user with regard to registration of the user based on at least partof the personal information displayed on the first informationprocessing apparatus, a registration step of registering the user basedon the personal information received by the process of the receptionstep in response to the confirmation by the process of the confirmationstep, an issuance step of issuing an ID to the user, and a productionstep of producing a table wherein the ID issued by the process of theissuance step is matched with an ID issued by the second informationprocessing apparatus and included in the personal information receivedby the process of the reception step.

[0019] A second program of the present invention causes a computer toexecute a reception step of receiving, from a second informationprocessing apparatus in which personal information of a user of a firstinformation processing apparatus is registered, the personal informationthrough a network, a control step of controlling the first informationprocessing apparatus to display at least part of the personalinformation received by the process of the reception step forregistration of the user of the first information processing apparatus,a confirmation step of acquiring confirmation of the user with regard toregistration of the user based on at least part of the personalinformation displayed on the first information processing apparatus, aregistration step of registering the user based on the personalinformation received by the process of the reception step in response tothe confirmation by the process of the confirmation step, an issuancestep of issuing an ID to the user, and a production step of producing atable wherein the ID issued by the process of the issuance step ismatched with an ID issued by the second information processing apparatusand included in the personal information received by the process of thereception step.

[0020] A third information processing apparatus of the present inventionis characterized in that it includes reception means for receiving, froma second different information processing apparatus in which personalinformation of a user of a first different information processingapparatus is registered, a mail address and a name as well as an ID anda password of the user through a network, control means for controllingthe first different information processing apparatus to display the mailaddress and the name received by the reception means for registration ofthe user, confirmation means for acquiring confirmation of the user withregard to registration of the user based on the mail address and thename displayed on the first different information processing apparatus,and registration means for registering the mail address and the name aswell as the ID and the password as information for acceptance ofaccessing from the user in response to the confirmation by theconfirmation means.

[0021] A third information processing method of the present invention ischaracterized in that it includes a reception step of receiving, from asecond information processing apparatus in which personal information ofa user of a first information processing apparatus is registered, a mailaddress and a name as well as an ID and a password of the user through anetwork, a control step of controlling the first information processingapparatus to display the mail address and the name received by theprocess of the reception step for registration of the user, aconfirmation step of acquiring confirmation of the user with regard toregistration of the user based on the mail address and the namedisplayed on the first information processing apparatus, and aregistration step of registering the mail address and the name as wellas the ID and the password as information for acceptance of accessingfrom the user in response to the confirmation by the process of theconfirmation step.

[0022] A third recording medium of the present invention ischaracterized in that a program includes a reception step of receiving,from a second information processing apparatus in which personalinformation of a user of a first information processing apparatus isregistered, a mail address and a name as well as an ID and a password ofthe user through a network, a control step of controlling the firstinformation processing apparatus to display the mail address and thename received by the process of the reception step for registration ofthe user, a confirmation step of acquiring confirmation of the user withregard to registration of the user based on the mail address and thename displayed on the first information processing apparatus, and aregistration step of registering the mail address and the name as wellas the ID and the password as information for acceptance of accessingfrom the user in response to the confirmation by the process of theconfirmation step.

[0023] A third program of the present invention causes a computer toexecute a reception step of receiving, from a second informationprocessing apparatus in which personal information of a user of a firstinformation processing apparatus is registered, a mail address and aname as well as an ID and a password of the user through a network, acontrol step of controlling the first information processing apparatusto display the mail address and the name received by the process of thereception step for registration of the user, a confirmation step ofacquiring confirmation of the user with regard to registration of theuser based on the mail address and the name displayed on the firstinformation processing apparatus, and a registration step of registeringthe mail address and the name as well as the ID and the password asinformation for acceptance of accessing from the user in response to theconfirmation by the process of the confirmation step.

[0024] A fourth information processing apparatus of the presentinvention is characterized in that it includes reception means forreceiving an ID through a network from a first different informationprocessing apparatus in which personal information of a user isregistered, production means for producing a table wherein an ID issuedalready by a second different information processing apparatus ismatched with the ID received by the reception means, first accessingmeans for accessing the first different information processing apparatusthrough the network based on the ID received from the first differentinformation processing apparatus, and second accessing means forconverting, in order to access the second different informationprocessing apparatus through the network, the ID received from the firstdifferent information processing apparatus into the ID issued from thesecond different information processing apparatus based on the tableproduced by the production means and accessing the second differentinformation processing apparatus with the ID obtained by the conversion.

[0025] A fourth information processing method of the present inventionis characterized in that it includes a reception step of receiving an IDthrough a network from a first information processing apparatus in whichpersonal information of a user is registered, a production step ofproducing a table wherein an ID issued already by a second informationprocessing apparatus is matched with the ID received by the process ofthe reception step, a first accessing step of accessing the firstinformation processing apparatus through the network based on the IDreceived from the first information processing apparatus, and a secondaccessing step of converting, in order to access the second informationprocessing apparatus through the network, the ID received from the firstinformation processing apparatus into the ID issued from the secondinformation processing apparatus based on the table produced by the stepof the production step and accessing the second different informationprocessing apparatus with the ID obtained by the conversion.

[0026] A fourth recording medium of the present invention ischaracterized in that a program includes a reception step of receivingan ID through a network from a first information processing apparatus inwhich personal information of a user is registered, a production step ofproducing a table wherein an ID issued already by a second informationprocessing apparatus is matched with the ID received by the process ofthe reception step, a first accessing step of accessing the firstinformation processing apparatus through the network based on the IDreceived from the first information processing apparatus, and a secondaccessing step of converting, in order to access the second informationprocessing apparatus through the network, the ID received from the firstinformation processing apparatus into the ID issued from the secondinformation processing apparatus based on the table produced by the stepof the production step and accessing the second different informationprocessing apparatus with the ID obtained by the conversion.

[0027] A fourth program of the present invention causes a computer toexecute a reception step of receiving an ID through a network from afirst information processing apparatus in which personal information ofa user is registered, a production step of producing a table wherein anID issued already by a second information processing apparatus ismatched with the ID received by the process of the reception step, afirst accessing step of accessing the first information processingapparatus through the network based on the ID received from the firstinformation processing apparatus, and a second accessing step ofconverting, in order to access the second information processingapparatus through the network, the ID received from the firstinformation processing apparatus into the ID issued from the secondinformation processing apparatus based on the table produced by the stepof the production step and accessing the second information processingapparatus with the ID obtained by the conversion.

[0028] In the information processing system of the present invention,the first access information necessitated to access the secondinformation processing apparatus and the second access informationnecessitated to access the third information processing apparatus arecommon.

[0029] In the first information processing apparatus and method,recording medium and program of the present invention, an IDcorresponding to accepted personal information is issued, and the ID istransmitted to the second different information processing apparatusthrough the network.

[0030] In the second information processing apparatus and method,recording medium and program of the present invention, at least part ofthe personal information received from the second different informationprocessing apparatus is displayed on the first different informationprocessing apparatus, registration of the user of the first informationprocessing apparatus is confirmed by the user, and an ID same as that ofthe second different information processing apparatus is issued inresponse to the confirmation.

[0031] In the third information processing apparatus and method,recording medium and program of the present invention, a mail addressand a name as well as an ID and a password of the user are received fromthe second different information processing apparatus through thenetwork, and the mail address and the name are displayed forregistration of the user of the first different information processingapparatus. Then, confirmation of the user with regard to registration ofthe user based on the mail address and the name is acquired, and the IDand the password are registered as information for accepting accessingfrom the user based on the confirmation.

[0032] In the fourth information processing apparatus and method,recording medium and program of the present invention, an ID receivedfrom the first different information processing apparatus is convertedbased on the table and is used to access the second informationprocessing apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0033]FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a conventional serviceproviding system;

[0034]FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration of a service providingsystem to which the present invention is applied;

[0035]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camcorderof FIG. 2;

[0036]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a customerregistration web server of FIG. 2;

[0037]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camcorderimage station of FIG. 2;

[0038]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a customerdatabase of FIG. 2;

[0039]FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a customer registrationprocess of the service providing system of FIG. 2;

[0040]FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a digital image customerregistration process of the camcorder of FIG. 2;

[0041]FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a digital image customerregistration process of the network system of FIG. 2;

[0042]FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating an ISP-A simple registrationprocess of the camcorder of FIG. 2;

[0043]FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating an ISP-A simple registrationprocess of the customer database of an Internet service provider A ofFIG. 2;

[0044]FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an example of ISP-A settinginformation at step S79 of FIG. 11;

[0045]FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an example of camcorder settinginformation at step S80 of FIG. 11;

[0046]FIG. 14A is a view illustrating setting items upon connection tothe Internet;

[0047]FIG. 14B is a view illustrating setting items upon connection tothe Internet;

[0048]FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating an album utilizationregistration process of the camcorder of FIG. 2;

[0049]FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating an album registrationutilization process of the camcorder image station of FIG. 2;

[0050]FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating an access process of thecamcorder of FIG. 2; and

[0051]FIG. 18 is a view illustrating utilization of a common ID andpassword.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0052]FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration of a service providingsystem to which the present invention is applied. In the present serviceproviding system, a network system 14, a network service business center15, an image station server 16, an Internet service provider A (ISP-A)17, an Internet service provider B 18, an information providing server19 and a search server 20 are connected to the Internet 10.

[0053] The network system 14, Internet service provider A 17 andInternet service provider B 18 are connected to a public network 13, andalso a Bluetooth adapter 12 is connected to the public network 13. Acamcorder 11 can establish a connection to the Bluetooth adapter 12through short range radio communication based on the Bluetooth(trademark) and further establish a connection from the Bluetoothadapter 12 to the network system 14, Internet service provider A 17 orInternet service provider B 18 through the public network 13.

[0054] The network system 14 is composed of an access point (AP) 31, acustomer database (C-DB) 32, a customer registration web server 33 and aregistration authentication platform (RAP) 34.

[0055] The access point 31 is connected to the public network 13. Thecustomer database 32 registers various kinds of information of a userwho has purchased the camcorder 11. The customer registration web server33 controls the registration process of the camcorder 11. Theregistration authentication platform 34 executes an authenticationprocess of a user of the network system 14.

[0056] While the access point 31, customer database 32, customerregistration web server 33 and registration authentication platform 34are formed separately from one another in the example of FIG. 2, theymay otherwise be formed integrally with one another.

[0057] The network service business center 15 has a camcorder imagestation 41. The camcorder image station 41 registers and manages imagedata transmitted thereto from the camcorder 11.

[0058] The image station server 17 registers and manages image datatransmitted thereto from a personal computer not shown.

[0059] The Internet service provider A 17 includes an access point 51, acustomer database 52 and a mail server 53. The mail server 53 in turnincludes a POP server 54 and an STMP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)server 55.

[0060] The Internet service provider A 17 is a particular Internetservice provider and is an Internet connection service provided by anenterprise same as the provider of the service providing system shown inFIG. 2 or a cooperating enterprise or the like.

[0061] The access point 51 performs a communication process with thepublic network 13. The customer database 52 registers various kinds ofinformation of users of the Internet service provider A 17. The POPserver 54 principally manages a process of transmission and reception ofmails to and from the camcorder 11. The STMP server 55 principallymanages transmission and reception of mails to and from another SMTPserver (in the case of the present example, an STMP server 65 of theInternet service provider B 18).

[0062] The Internet service provider B 18 has an access point 61 and acustomer database 62 and further has a mail server 63 which includes aPOP server 64 and an STMP server 65. This basic configuration is similarto that of the Internet service provider A 17.

[0063] The information providing server 19 provides various kinds ofinformation regarding, for example, commodities of a predeterminedenterprise. The search server 20 provides a service of searching variouskinds of information laid open through the Internet 10.

[0064]FIG. 3 shows an example of a configuration of the camcorder 11.The camcorder 11 is a video tape recorder integrated with a camera andhas an accessing function to the Internet 10. Referring to FIG. 3, a CPU(Central Processing Unit) 71 executes various processes in accordancewith a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 72 or a program loadedin a RAM (Random Access Memory) 73. Also data and so forth necessary forthe CPU 71 to execute various processes are suitably stored into the RAM73. An EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) 74stores data which need to be kept stored after the power supply isdisconnected.

[0065] The CPU 71, ROM 72, RAM 73 and EEPROM 74 are interconnected by abus 75. An input/output interface 76 is also connected to the bus 75.

[0066] An inputting section 77 including various buttons, switches andso forth, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) unit 78, a speaker 79, animage pickup section 80 formed from a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) imagepickup device or the like, a microphone 81 for fetching a sound signaland a communication section 82 for performing short range radiocommunication with the Bluetooth adapter 12 based on the Bluetooth areconnected to the input/output interface 76.

[0067] A recording and reproduction section 83 records image data pickedup by the image pickup section 80, sound data collected by themicrophone 81 and so forth onto a cassette magnetic tape loaded therein.Further, the recording and reproduction section 83 reproduces image dataand sound data recorded on a cassette magnetic tape, outputs an imagecorresponding to the image data to the LCD unit 78 to display the same,and supplies sound data to the speaker 79 so that the sound data areoutputted.

[0068] A memory card interface 84 executes, when a memory card 85 as aportable semiconductor memory is loaded therein, a writing process and areading out process of data into and from the memory card 85. The memorycard 85 can store image data picked up by the image pickup section 80and sound data collected by the microphone 81 as well as various dataacquired from the communication section 82 through the Internet 10.

[0069] When necessary, a drive 86 is connected to the input/outputinterface 76, and a magnetic disk 91, an optical disk 92, amagneto-optical disk 93, a semiconductor memory 94 or the like issuitably loaded into the drive 86 such that a computer program read outfrom the thus loaded medium is installed into the RAM 73 when necessary.

[0070]FIG. 4 shows an example of a configuration of the customerregistration web server 33. Referring to FIG. 4, a CPU 111 executesvarious processes in accordance with a program stored in a ROM 112 oranother program loaded from a storage section 118 into a RAM 113. Alsodata and so forth necessary for the CPU 111 to execute various processesare suitably stored into the RAM 113.

[0071] The CPU 111, ROM 112 and RAM 113 are interconnected by a bus 114.Also an input/output interface 115 is connected to the bus 114.

[0072] An inputting section 116 including a keyboard, a mouse and soforth, an outputting section 117 including a display unit formed from aCRT or an LCD unit and a speaker or the like, a storage section 118formed from a hard disk or the like, and a communication section 119including a modem, a terminal adapter and so forth are connected to theinput/output interface 115. The communication section 119 performs acommunication process through a network including the Internet 10.

[0073] When necessary, also a drive 120 is connected to the input/outputinterface 115, and a magnetic disk 131, an optical disk 132, amagneto-optical disk 133, a semiconductor memory 134 or the like issuitably loaded into the drive 120 such that a computer program read outfrom the thus load medium is installed into the storage section 118 whennecessary.

[0074] Where the access point 31, customer database 32 and registrationauthentication platform 34 are formed separately from the customerregistration web server 33, though not shown, they are formed in abasically similar configuration to that of the customer registration webserver 33.

[0075]FIG. 5 shows an example of a configuration of the camcorder imagestation 41 which composes the network service business center 15. Thecomponents of the camcorder image station 41 from a CPU 151 to asemiconductor memory 174 have basically similar configurations to thoseof the components of the customer registration web server 33 of FIG. 4from the CPU 111 to the semiconductor memory 134, and those componentshaving like names have like functions. Accordingly, description of themis omitted herein to avoid redundancy.

[0076]FIG. 6 shows an example of a configuration of the customerdatabase 52 of the Internet service provider A 17. Also components ofthe customer database 52 from a CPU 191 to a semiconductor memory 214have basically similar configurations to those of the components of thecustomer registration web server 33 of FIG. 4 from the CPU 111 to thesemiconductor memory 134, and those components having like names havelike functions. Accordingly, description of them is omitted herein toavoid redundancy.

[0077] Where the access point 51 and the mail server 53 (POP server 54and STMP server 55) are formed separately from the customer database 52,also they basically have a configuration similar to that of the customerdatabase 52 of FIG. 6.

[0078] The user who has purchased the camcorder 11 can enjoy provisionof services of the service providing system of FIG. 2. To this end, theuser of the camcorder 11 executes a process of registering the camcorder11 (its user) into the network system 14. If the camcorder 11 ispurchased, then since the Bluetooth adapter 12 belongs to the camcorder11 (if the Bluetooth adapter 12 does not belong, then it is purchasedseparately), the user can connect the Bluetooth adapter 12 to the publicnetwork 13 to register the camcorder 11 (its user) into the networksystem 14.

[0079] When the registration process is performed, a process illustratedin a flow chart of FIG. 7 is executed by the service providing system.In particular, at step S1, a digital image customer registration processis executed by the network system 14, and at step S2, an ISP-A simpleregistration process is executed by the Internet service provider A 17.Thereafter, at step S3, an album utilization registration process isexecuted by the network service business center 15.

[0080] Thus, the processes at steps S1 to S3 are described individuallybelow.

[0081] First, the digital image customer registration process by thenetwork system 14 is described with reference to flow charts of FIGS. 8and 9. FIG. 8 illustrates a process of the camcorder 11 when theregistration process is performed, and FIG. 9 illustrates acorresponding process of the customer registration web server 33.

[0082] At step S11, the user of the camcorder 11 will operate theinputting section 77 to issue an instruction to access the networksystem 14. This access destination is stored in advance in the ROM 72.The CPU 71 controls the communication section 82 based on theinformation stored in the ROM 72 to issue an instruction to access theaccess point 31 of the network system 14. Upon reception of theinstruction, the communication section 81 communicates with theBluetooth adapter 12 by short-range radio communication to access theaccess point 31 of the network system 14 through the public network 13from the Bluetooth adapter 12.

[0083] A guest ID is utilized for the first access to the network system14. In particular, if the user inputs, for example, “GUEST” as an ID,then the registration authentication platform 34 permits the access.When the registration authentication platform 34 permits the access fromthe camcorder 11, it passes the management right of a process for thecamcorder 11 to the customer registration web server 33.

[0084] The CPU 111 of the customer registration web server 33 thereuponissues a request to the user of the camcorder 11 to input personalinformation at step S31 of FIG. 9. This request is outputted from thecommunication section 119 and transmitted to the camcorder 11 throughthe access point 31, public network 13 and Bluetooth adapter 12.

[0085] When the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 receives the request throughthe communication section 82, it outputs a message corresponding to therequest to the LCD unit 78 to display the message at step S12.

[0086] The user of the camcorder 11 will operate the inputting section77 to input its personal information based on the message. The personalinformation includes a registration code of the camcorder 11 including anumerical value of 16 figures and an alphabetical letter or letters (theregistration code is recorded on a postal card annexed to the camcorder11 when the camcorder 11 is purchased), the zip code, the name, theaddress, the date of birth, the sex, a telephone number, an electronicmail address and so forth of the user, the product number (serialnumber) of the camcorder 11, the date of purchase and so forth.

[0087] When the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 receives such personalinformation as an input thereto, it causes the personal information tobe transmitted to the network system 14 at step S12.

[0088] In particular, the CPU 71 controls the communication section 82to transmit the inputted personal information to the network system 14.The personal information is supplied to the customer registration webserver 33 through the Bluetooth adapter 12, public network 13 and accesspoint 31.

[0089] When the CPU 111 of the customer registration web server 33acquires the personal information through the communication section 119at step S31 of FIG. 9, it supplies the personal information to the RAM113 to temporarily store the personal information.

[0090] After the personal information is registered into the RAM 113,the CPU 111 produces a personal information confirmation screen andtransmits it from the communication section 119 to the camcorder 11 atstep S32. The data of the personal information confirmation screen aresupplied from the access point 31 to the Bluetooth adapter 12 throughthe public network 13 and transmitted from the Bluetooth adapter 12 tothe camcorder 11.

[0091] When the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 receives the data of thepersonal information confirmation screen through the communicationsection 82, it stores the data once into the RAM 73 and then reads outand outputs the data to the LCD unit 78 so that the data are displayedon the LCD unit 78 at step S13 of FIG. 8. Consequently, the personalinformation inputted by the user of the camcorder 11 is displayed forconfirmation on the LCD unit 78.

[0092] If the user operates the inputting section 77 to input the factthat the user has confirmed the personal information inputted by itself,then the CPU 71 transmits the confirmation signal from the communicationsection 82 to the customer registration web server 33.

[0093] When the CPU 111 of the customer registration web server 33receives the confirmation signal through the communication section 119,it transfers the personal information registered in the RAM 113 to thestorage section 118 to store the personal information at step S32 ofFIG. 9.

[0094] Then at step S33, the CPU 111 issues a temporary ID and atemporary password to the user of the camcorder 11. The temporary ID andthe temporary password are outputted from the communication section 119and transmitted to the camcorder 11 through the access point 31, publicnetwork 13 and Bluetooth adapter 12.

[0095] When the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 receives the temporary ID andthe temporary password through the communication section 82 at step S14of FIG. 8, it either supplies them to the LCD unit 78 to display them orsupplies them to the EEPROM 74 to store them.

[0096] The customer registration web server 33 supplies the personalinformation of the user of the camcorder 11 registered in the storagesection 118 in such a manner as described above to the customer database32 to register the personal information at step S33.

[0097] At step S34, the customer database 32 supplies the personalinformation to the camcorder image station 41 of the network servicebusiness center 15 through the Internet 10.

[0098] When the CPU 151 of the camcorder image station 41 receives thepersonal information transmitted thereto from the network system 14through the communication section 159, it supplies the received personalinformation to the storage section 158 to store the personal information(at step S121 of FIG. 16 which is hereinafter described).

[0099] At step S35, the customer database 32 further transmits thepersonal information of the camcorder 11 to the customer database 52 ofthe Internet service provider A 17.

[0100] The customer database 52 of the Internet service provider A 17registers the personal information of the camcorder 11 transmittedthereto from the network system 14 through the Internet 10 (step S71 ofFIG. 11 hereinafter described).

[0101] It is to be noted that, when the personal information of the userof the camcorder 11 is changed in the network service business center 15later, the customer database 32 of the network system 14 receives thechanged personal information from the camcorder image station 41 throughthe Internet 10 and registers it into the customer database 32 itself atstep S36. Further, the customer database 32 supplies the updatedpersonal information through the Internet 10 to the customer database 52of the Internet service provider A 17 to register the personalinformation.

[0102] On the contrary, if the user of the camcorder 11 changes thepersonal information in the Internet service provider A 17, then sincethis is registered into the customer database 52, the customer database52 notifies the customer database 32 of the network system 14 of thechanged personal information through the Internet 10. The customerdatabase 32 overwrites the old personal information with the inputtedpersonal information to update the personal information.

[0103] At this time, the customer database 32 further transmits theupdated personal information to the camcorder image station 41 of thenetwork service business center 15 through the Internet 10.

[0104] The camcorder image station 41 updates the old personalinformation with the inputted personal information.

[0105] After the personal information in one of the network system 14,network service business center 15 and Internet service provider A 17 isupdated in such a manner as described above, this is reflectedimmediately on the other two of them.

[0106] After the user of the camcorder 11 is registered into thecustomer database 32 of the network system 14 in such a manner asdescribed above, the network system 14 thereafter notifies the user ofthe camcorder 11 of various kinds of information regarding the camcorder11 through the Internet 10 or using a postal card when necessary.

[0107] After the digital image customer registration process iscompleted in such a manner as described above, the ISP-A simpleregistration process is executed. In particular, after the customerregistration process is completed, the customer registration web server33 passes the management right of a later process for the camcorder 11to the customer database 52 of the Internet service provider A 17.

[0108] Accordingly, the ISP-A simple registration process is executedlater between the camcorder 11 and the customer database 52 of theInternet service provider A 17. FIG. 10 illustrates a process of thecamcorder 11 in the present case, and FIG. 11 illustrates acorresponding process of the customer database 52.

[0109] When the CPU 191 of the customer database 52 of the Internetservice provider A 17 receives, at step S71 of FIG. 11, the personalinformation transmitted from the customer database 32 of the networksystem 14 at step S35 of FIG. 9, it supplies the received personalinformation to the storage section 198 to store the personalinformation.

[0110] When the customer database 52 of the Internet service provider A17 receives the personal information of the camcorder 11 at step S71, itrequests the camcorder 11 for the user to input whether or not the useralready is a member of the Internet service provider A 17 and further toinput, if the user is a member of the Internet service provider A 17,its user ID of the Internet service provider A 17.

[0111] When the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 receives the request at stepS51 of FIG. 10, it outputs a corresponding message to the LCD unit 78 todisplay the message. The user will observe the display and operate, ifthe user itself is a member of the Internet service provider A 17already, the inputting section 77 to input its user ID. On the otherhand, if the user is not a member of the Internet service provider A 17,then this will be inputted. The CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 discriminatesat step S52 whether or not a user ID of the Internet service provider A17 is inputted. If the information that the user is not a member of theInternet service provider A 17 is inputted, then, at step S53, the CPU71 causes the communication section 82 to transmit the information tothe customer database 52 of the Internet service provider A 17.

[0112] When the CPU 191 of the customer database 52 receives the inputthrough the communication section 191, it discriminates at step S72 ofFIG. 11 that the user is not a member of the Internet service provider A17, and the processing advances to step S73, at which the CPU 191 of thecustomer database 52 transmits personal information for entrance intothe Internet service provider A 17. As the personal information, theinformation transmitted from the network system 14 by the processing atstep S35 of FIG. 9 and received and stored at step S71 is used basicallyas it is.

[0113] When the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 receives personal informationfor entrance into the Internet service provider A 17 through thecommunication section 82 at step S54 of FIG. 10, it outputs the personalinformation to the LCD unit 78 to display the personal information.

[0114] Since this personal information is personal information inputtedwhen the user of the camcorder 11 performed user registration into thenetwork system 14, basically it includes no error. However, to makesure, the user will watch the display and discriminate whether or not itis necessary to correct the personal information. If it is necessary tocorrect the personal information, then the user will operate theinputting section 77 to input correction.

[0115] Thus, the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 discriminates at step S55whether or not correction is inputted. If correction is inputted, then,at step S56, the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 causes the communicationsection 82 to transmit a corrected item to the customer database 52 ofthe Internet service provider A 17. If no correction is inputted, thenthe process at step S56 is skipped.

[0116] The CPU 191 of the customer database 52 of the Internet serviceprovider A 17 discriminates at step S74 of FIG. 11 whether or notcorrection is received through the communication section 199. Ifcorrection is received, then the CPU 191 corrects, at step S75, thepersonal information registered already based on the received correctioncontents. If correction is not received, then the process at step S75 isskipped.

[0117] As the personal information, the personal information registeredupon user registration into the network system 14 by the user whopurchased the camcorder 11 is displayed basically as it is as describedhereinabove (from within the personal information, only informationnecessary for the user to become a member of the Internet serviceprovider A 17 is displayed). Accordingly, the user need not input itemsbasically similar to those inputted for user registration into thenetwork system 14 again in order to become a member of the Internetservice provider A 17. Accordingly, the operability is improved.

[0118] Then, at step S57, the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 causes the LCDunit 78 to display a message for urging the user to input the user nameand its password in accordance with an input guidance from the customerdatabase 52. The user of the camcorder 11 will operate the inputtingsection 77 in accordance with the message to input the user name and thepassword which are used by the user to utilize the Internet serviceprovider A 17. The CPU 71 transmits the inputted user name and thepassword to the customer database 52 of the Internet service provider A17 through the communication section 82.

[0119] When the CPU 191 of the customer database 52 receives the username and the password through the communication section 199 at step S76,it discriminates based on the data stored in the storage section 198whether or not the user name and the password are used by some otheruser already. If they are used, then a message representing this istransmitted from the communication section 199 to the camcorder 11.

[0120] When the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 receives this message throughthe communication section 82, it causes the LCD unit 78 to display themessage. If the user of the camcorder 11 watches the display anddiscriminates that the inputted user name and the password areregistered already, then the user will input a new user name andpassword.

[0121] When the user name and the password are transmitted from thecamcorder 11 in such a manner as described above, the CPU 191 of thecustomer database 52 acquires them through the communication section 199at step S76 of FIG. 11 and determines a user ID based on the user nameat step S77. This user ID is a user ID as a member of the Internetservice provider A 17.

[0122] In the present service providing system, a common ID and a commonpassword can be used for the network system 14, network service businesscenter 15 and Internet service provider A 17. However, a temporary IDand a temporary password are already set for the user of the camcorder11 at a stage when user registration was performed in the network system14 as described above (step S14 of FIG. 8 and step S33 of FIG. 9).

[0123] In order to make it possible for the user to enjoy a service ofthe Internet service provider A 17 based on the temporary ID and thetemporary password, the CPU 191 prepares a table in which a matchingrelationship for matching the temporary ID and the temporary passwordissued from the network system 14 at step S33 of FIG. 9 and received bythe process at step S71 with the user ID determined at step S77 andregisters the table to an ISP-A simple connection.

[0124] Consequently, if the user of the camcorder 11 accesses theInternet service provider A 17 based on the temporary ID and thetemporary password issued from the network system 14 at step S33 of FIG.9 and received by the camcorder 11 at step S14 of FIG. 8, then thecustomer database 52 searches for the user ID corresponding to thetemporary ID and the temporary password in the table to allow the userof the camcorder 11 to utilize a service provided by the Internetservice provider A 17.

[0125] When the registration of the user of the camcorder 11 as a memberof the Internet service provider A 17 is completed in such a manner asdescribed, the CPU 191 transmits, at step S79, setting informationnecessary to access the Internet service provider A 17 to the camcorder11.

[0126] When the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 receives the ISP-A settinginformation from the Internet service provider A 17 at step S58 of FIG.10, it outputs the ISP-A setting information to the LCD unit 78 todisplay the ISP-A setting information. Consequently, the user canconfirm the ISP-A setting information. The ISP-A setting informationdescribes, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, PPP login, a PPP password,an access point telephone number, a POP ID, a POP password, an E-mailaddress, a POP server, an SMTP mail server, a News server and so forth.

[0127] The user of the camcorder 11 will take notes of the contentsillustrated in FIG. 12 when necessary and operate the inputting section77 to output a signal of confirmation to the Internet service provider A17.

[0128] The customer database 52 of the Internet service provider A 17transmits camcorder setting information at step S80.

[0129] At step S59 of FIG. 10, the camcorder 11 receives the camcordersetting information and causes the LCD unit 78 to display theinformation.

[0130]FIG. 13 illustrates an example of camcorder setting informationtransmitted from the customer database 52 to the camcorder 11 in thismanner. In the present example, the camcorder setting informationincludes a DI customer ID, a DI password and an access point telephonenumber.

[0131] The access point telephone number represents a telephone numberof a point to be accessed when the camcorder 11 establishes a connectionto the Internet 10, more particularly of the access point 51 of theInternet service provider A 17.

[0132] The user of the camcorder 11 will operate, at step S60 of FIG.10, the inputting section 77 to set the camcorder setting informationdisplayed in this manner to the camcorder 11 as conditions forestablishing a connection to the Internet 10. This setting is storedinto the EEPROM 74.

[0133] For example, if a user who has purchased a personal computertries to establish a connection to the Internet 10 through an ordinaryservice provider (in the example of FIG. 2, the Internet serviceprovider B 18), then it is necessary for the user to set such 12 itemsas shown in FIG. 14A including an ID for PPP connection, a password forPPP connection, an access point telephone number, a Primary DNS Server,a Secondary DNS Server, a Proxy Server, a Port Number, an ID for POPauthentication, a password for POP authentication, a POP server, an SMTPserver and a mail address. In contrast, where the user who has purchasedthe camcorder 11 performs the ISP-A simple registration process, it isonly necessary for the user of the camcorder 11 to set a Unified ID(corresponding to the DI customer ID of FIG. 13), a password(corresponding to the DI password of FIG. 13) and an access pointtelephone number (corresponding to the access point telephone number ofFIG. 13) as shown in FIG. 14B. Accordingly, even a user who is notfamiliar with a setting operation can simply perform an operation forconnection to the Internet.

[0134] If the user itself of the camcorder 11 is a member of theInternet service provider A 17 already, then the user will operate theinputting section 77 based on a request from the customer database 52 toinput the user ID of the Internet service provider A 17. Thus, in thisinstance, if the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 acquires the user ID of theInternet service provider A 17 inputted from the user, then it causesthe communication section 82 to transmit the user ID of the Internetservice provider A 17 to the customer database 52 at step S61 of FIG.10. Thereafter, the processing advances to step S60.

[0135] When the CPU 191 of the customer database 52 of the Internetservice provider A 17 receives and acquires, at step S81 of FIG. 11, theuser ID of the Internet service provider A 17 transmitted thereto fromthe camcorder 11, it prepares, at step S82, a table which describes amatching relationship for matching the user ID of the Internet serviceprovider A 17 with the temporary ID and the temporary password includedin the personal information of the user received by the process at stepS71, and registers the table to the ISP-A simple connection.

[0136] The user will operate the inputting section 77 to set thecamcorder setting information as conditions for connection to theInternet 10 to the camcorder 11 at step S60 of FIG. 10. This setting isstored into the EEPROM 74.

[0137] The processing advances, after the processes at steps S80 and S82of FIG. 11, to step S83, at which the CPU 191 of the customer database52 transmits the information registered by the processing till then or,if the registered information is updated by the user, transmits theupdated information to the network system 14.

[0138] When the customer database 32 of the network system 14 receivesthe registration information from the Internet service provider A 17, itregisters the information into the customer database 32 and transmitsthe information also to the camcorder image station 41 of the networkservice business center 15 so that the information may be reflected.

[0139] Next to such an ISP-A simple registration process as describedabove, the album utilization registration process is executed. Thisalbum utilization registration process is further described withreference to flow charts of FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 illustrates analbum utilization registration process of the camcorder 11, and FIG. 16illustrates a corresponding album utilization registration process ofthe camcorder image station 41.

[0140] After the simple registration process of the Internet serviceprovider A 17 is completed, the CPU 191 of the customer database 52 ofthe Internet service provider A 17 passes the management right forprocessing of the camcorder 11 to the camcorder image station 41 of thenetwork service business center 15.

[0141] When the CPU 151 of the camcorder image station 41 receives thepersonal information of the camcorder 11 transmitted at step S34 of FIG.9 from the customer database 32 of the network system 14 through thecommunication section 159 at step S121 of FIG. 16, it supplies thereceived personal information to the storage section 158 to store thepersonal information. The CPU 151 reads out the name and the mailaddress of the received personal information and transmits them to thecamcorder 11 ate step S122.

[0142] When the CPU 71 of the camcorder 11 receives the name and themail address from the camcorder image station 41, it outputs them to theLCD unit 78 to display them at step S101. The user of the camcorder 11will watch the display and discriminate whether or not the name and themail address of the user itself are correct. It is to be noted that themail address (E-mail address) was set in the membership registrationinto the Internet service provider A 17 (FIG. 12).

[0143] If the user of the camcorder 11 confirms that the name and themail address are correct, then it will operate the inputting section 77to input, if it acknowledges to use the name and the mail address foralbum utilization registration, this information. Thus, at step S102,the CPU 71 discriminates whether or not acknowledgement is inputted, andif acknowledgement is inputted, then the processing advances to stepS103, at which the CPU 71 causes an acknowledgement signal correspondingto the input to be transmitted to the camcorder image station 41.

[0144] On the other hand, if the user does not acknowledge such albumutilization registration, it will operate the inputting section 77 toinput this. In this instance, the CPU 71 causes a non-acknowledgementsignal, which represents that the album utilization registration is notacknowledged, to be transmitted to the camcorder image station 41 atstep S104.

[0145] The CPU 151 of the camcorder image station 41 discriminates atstep S123 of FIG. 16 whether or not an acknowledgement signal isinputted. If an acknowledgement signal is inputted, then the processingadvances to step S124, at which the CPU 151 of the camcorder imagestation 41 stores the personal information received at step S121 intothe storage section 158.

[0146] On the other hand, if it is discriminated at step S123 that anacknowledgement signal is not inputted, then the process at step S124 isskipped.

[0147] The personal information corresponding to the temporary ID andthe temporary password issued by the network system 14 are registeredinto the camcorder image station 41 in this manner.

[0148] Thereafter, at step S125, if an input to update the registrationinformation is received from the user, the CPU 151 of the camcorderimage station 41 transmits this to the network system 14.

[0149] The customer database 32 of the network system 14 registers theupdated information into itself and besides transmits the updatedinformation to the customer database 52 of the Internet service providerA 17 to register the updated information.

[0150] It is to be noted that, after the customer database 32 of thenetwork system 14 issues a temporary ID and a temporary password, itmails a postal card on which a regular ID and a regular password arerecorded to the address of the user. When the user receives the postalcard, it will replace the temporary ID and the temporary password withthe regular ID and the regular password and use them.

[0151] After the regular ID and the regular password are issued, thecustomer database 32 transmits them to the network service businesscenter 15 and the Internet service provider A 17 through the Internet10. The regular ID and the regular password are registered both into thenetwork service business center 15 and the Internet service provider A17. The temporary ID and the temporary password can be utilized onlywithin a predetermined period (for example, two weeks) after they areissued, and each of the network system 14, network service businesscenter 15 and Internet service provider A 17 considers the temporary IDand the temporary password valid only within two weeks and rejects, ifthe temporary ID and the temporary password are used after the term ofvalidity is expired, the accessing.

[0152] It is to be noted that, while, in the foregoing description, userregistration is performed from the camcorder 11 into the network system14, it is otherwise possible to use a personal computer to perform userregistration through the Internet 10 or perform user registration usinga postal card.

[0153] Now, a process when the camcorder 11 establishes a connection tothe network system 14, network service business center 15 or Internetservice provider A 17 is described with reference to a flow chart ofFIG. 17. The user will operate the inputting section 77 to input thetemporary ID and the temporary password allocated upon user registrationinto the network system 14 (or the regular ID and the regular passwordset later). At step S141, the CPU 71 acquires the inputted ID andpassword based on the operation of the inputting section 77 by the user.Further, the CPU 71 discriminates at step S142 whether or not the accessdestination designated by the user is the Internet service provider A17.

[0154] If the destination to be accessed is the Internet serviceprovider A 17, then the processing advances to step S143, at which theCPU 71 uses the inputted ID and password to execute a process ofaccessing the Internet service provider A 17. In this instance, sincethe customer database 52 of the Internet service provider A 17 has theconversion table as described hereinabove, the Internet service providerA 17 discriminates based on the conversion table whether or not the userof the camcorder 11 is a legal user.

[0155] If it is discriminated at step S142 that the access destinationis not the Internet service provider A 17, the processing advances tostep S144, at which the CPU 71 discriminates whether or not the accessdestination is the network system 14. If the access destination is thenetwork system 14, then the processing advances to step S145, at whichthe CPU 71 accesses the network system 14 based on the ID and thepassword acquired at step S141. Similarly, if it is discriminated atstep S144 that the access destination is not the network system (if itis discriminated that the access destination is the network businesscenter 15), the processing advances to step S146, at which the CPU 71utilizes the ID and the password acquired at step S141 to access thenetwork business center 15.

[0156] As described above, in the present service providing system, thetemporary ID and the temporary password (same ID and password) issuedupon user registration into the network system 14 can be used as an IDand a password for the network system 14, network service businesscenter 15 and the Internet service provider A 17 to enjoy provision ofthe individual services as shown in FIG. 18.

[0157] While the series of processes described above can be executed byhardware, it may otherwise be executed by software. Where the series ofprocesses is executed by software, a program which constructs thesoftware is installed from a network or a recording medium into acomputer incorporated in hardware for exclusive use or, for example, apersonal computer for universal use which can execute various functionsby installing various programs.

[0158] The recording medium is not only formed as a package medium suchas, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a magnetic disk 91 (including a floppydisk), 131, 171 or 211, an optical disk 92 (including a CD-ROM (CompactDisk-Read Only Memory) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)), 132, 172 or212, or a magneto-optical disk 93 (including an MD (Mini-Disk)), 133,173 or 213, or a semiconductor memory 94, 134, 174 or 214 or the likewhich has the program recorded thereon or therein and is distributed inorder to provide the program separately from an apparatus body, but alsoformed as a ROM 72, 112, 152 or 192 or a hard disk included in thestorage section 118, 158 or 198 in which the program is stored thereinand which is provided to a user in a state wherein it is incorporated inan apparatus body in advance.

[0159] It is to be noted that, in the present specification, the stepswhich describe the program stored in a recording medium may be but neednot necessarily be processed in a time series in the order as described,and include processes which are executed in parallel or individuallywithout being processed in a time series.

[0160] Further, in the present specification, the system represents anentire apparatus formed from a plurality of apparatus.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0161] As described above, with the information processing system of thepresent invention, since the first access information necessitated toaccess the second information processing apparatus and the second accessinformation necessitated to access the third information processingapparatus are common, an information processing system wherein theoperability is improved can be implemented.

[0162] With the first information processing apparatus and method,recording medium and program of the present invention, since an IDcorresponding to accepted personal information is issued and the ID istransmitted through the network, the ID can be utilized as a common IDto the other apparatus.

[0163] With the second information processing apparatus and method,recording medium and program of the present invention, since at leastpart of the received personal information is displayed for registrationof the user and, after this is confirmed by the user, an ID is issued tothe user and then a table wherein the issued ID is matched with an IDincluded in the personal information is produced, also when the useraccesses utilizing the ID same as that for the second informationprocessing apparatus, the access can be accepted.

[0164] With the third information processing apparatus and method,recording medium and program of the present invention, sinceconfirmation of the user is obtained based on a mail address and thename and then an ID issued by a different information processingapparatus is registered as information for accepting accessing from theuser, the ID common to that for the different information processingapparatus can be utilized to provide a service simply and withcertainty.

[0165] With the fourth information processing apparatus and method,recording medium and program of the present invention, when the seconddifferent information processing apparatus is accessed through thenetwork, an input of an ID received from the first different informationprocessing apparatus is received and converted into an ID issued by thesecond information processing apparatus based on the prepared table andthe converted ID is used for accessing. Consequently, the firstinformation processing apparatus and the second information processingapparatus can be accessed based on the common ID.

1. An information processing system including a plurality of informationprocessing apparatus interconnected by a network, characterized in thatfirst access information necessitated when a first one of saidinformation processing apparatus accesses a second one of saidinformation processing apparatus and second access informationnecessitated when the first information processing apparatus accesses athird one of said information processing apparatus are common.
 2. Aninformation processing system according to claim 1, characterized inthat the access information includes an ID and a password.
 3. Aninformation processing system according to claim 1, characterized inthat the second information processing apparatus issues the accessinformation when a user of the first information processing apparatus isregistered into the second information processing apparatus, and thethird information processing apparatus issues the access informationwhen the user is registered into the third information processingapparatus in order to provide a predetermined service to the user of thefirst information processing apparatus.
 4. An information processingsystem according to claim 3, characterized in that the accessinformation is used further as third access information necessitatedwhen a fourth one of said information processing apparatus provides apredetermined service to the user of the first information processingapparatus.
 5. An information processing apparatus, characterized in thatit comprises: acceptance means for accepting personal information of auser of a first different information processing apparatus; storagemeans for storing the personal information accepted by said acceptancemeans; issuance means for issuing an ID corresponding to the personalinformation accepted by said acceptance means; and transmission meansfor transmitting the ID issued by said issuance means to a seconddifferent information processing apparatus through a network.
 6. Aninformation processing method, characterized in that it comprises: anacceptance step of accepting personal information of a user of a firstinformation processing apparatus; a storage step of storing the personalinformation accepted by the process of the acceptance step; an issuancestep of issuing an ID corresponding to the personal information acceptedby the process of the acceptance step; and a transmission step oftransmitting the ID issued by the process of the issuance step to asecond information processing apparatus through a network.
 7. Arecording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded,characterized in that the program comprises: an acceptance step ofaccepting personal information of a user of a first informationprocessing apparatus; a storage step of storing the personal informationaccepted by the process of the acceptance step; an issuance step ofissuing an ID corresponding to the personal information accepted by theprocess of the acceptance step; and a transmission step of transmittingthe ID issued by the process of the issuance step to a secondinformation processing apparatus through a network.
 8. A program forcausing a computer to execute: an acceptance step of accepting personalinformation of a user of a first information processing apparatus; astorage step of storing the personal information accepted by the processof the acceptance step; an issuance step of issuing an ID correspondingto the personal information accepted by the process of the acceptancestep; and a transmission step of transmitting the ID issued by theprocess of the issuance step to a second information processingapparatus through a network.
 9. An information processing apparatus,characterized in that it comprises: reception means for receiving, froma second different information processing apparatus in which personalinformation of a user of a first different information processingapparatus is registered, the personal information through a network;control means for controlling said first different informationprocessing apparatus to display at least part of the personalinformation received by said reception means for registration of theuser of said first different information processing apparatus;confirmation means for acquiring confirmation of the user with regard toregistration of the user based on at least part of the personalinformation displayed on said first different information processingapparatus; registration means for registering the user based on thepersonal information received by said reception means in response to theconfirmation by said confirmation means; issuance means for issuing anID to the user; and production means for producing a table wherein theID issued by said issuance means is matched with an ID and a passwordissued by said second different information processing apparatus andincluded in the personal information received by said reception means.10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 9,characterized in that it further comprises requesting means forrequesting, where an ID is issued already to the user of said firstdifferent information processing apparatus, said first informationprocessing apparatus to match the ID issued already and the ID by saidsecond information processing apparatus with each other.
 11. Aninformation processing method, characterized in that it comprises: areception step of receiving, from a second information processingapparatus in which personal information of a user of a first informationprocessing apparatus is registered, the personal information through anetwork; a control step of controlling said first information processingapparatus to display at least part of the personal information receivedby the process of the reception step for registration of the user ofsaid first information processing apparatus; a confirmation step ofacquiring confirmation of the user with regard to registration of theuser based on at least part of the personal information displayed onsaid first information processing apparatus; a registration step ofregistering the user based on the personal information received by theprocess of the reception step in response to the confirmation by theprocess of the confirmation step; an issuance step of issuing an ID tothe user; and a production step of producing a table wherein the IDissued by the process of the issuance step is matched with an ID issuedby said second information processing apparatus and included in thepersonal information received by the process of the reception step. 12.A recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded,characterized in that the program comprises: a reception step ofreceiving, from a second information processing apparatus in whichpersonal information of a user of a first information processingapparatus is registered, the personal information through a network; acontrol step of controlling said first information processing apparatusto display at least part of the personal information received by theprocess of the reception step for registration of the user of said firstinformation processing apparatus; a confirmation step of acquiringconfirmation of the user with regard to registration of the user basedon at least part of the personal information displayed on said firstinformation processing apparatus; a registration step of registering theuser based on the personal information received by the process of thereception step in response to the confirmation by the process of theconfirmation step; an issuance step of issuing an ID to the user; and aproduction step of producing a table wherein the ID issued by theprocess of the issuance step is matched with an ID issued by said secondinformation processing apparatus and included in the personalinformation received by the process of the reception step.
 13. A programfor causing a computer to execute: a reception step of receiving, from asecond information processing apparatus in which personal information ofa user of a first information processing apparatus is registered, thepersonal information through a network; a control step of controllingsaid first information processing apparatus to display at least part ofthe personal information received by the process of the reception stepfor registration of the user of said first information processingapparatus; a confirmation step of acquiring confirmation of the userwith regard to registration of the user based on at least part of thepersonal information displayed on said first information processingapparatus; a registration step of registering the user based on thepersonal information received by the process of the reception step inresponse to the confirmation by the process of the confirmation step; anissuance step of issuing an ID to the user; and a production step ofproducing a table wherein the ID issued by the process of the issuancestep is matched with an ID issued by said second information processingapparatus and included in the personal information received by theprocess of the reception step.
 14. An information processing apparatus,characterized in that it comprises: reception means for receiving, froma second different information processing apparatus in which personalinformation of a user of a first different information processingapparatus is registered, a mail address and a name as well as an ID anda password of the user through a network; control means for controllingsaid first different information processing apparatus to display themail address and the name received by said reception means forregistration of the user; confirmation means for acquiring confirmationof the user with regard to registration of the user based on the mailaddress and the name displayed on said first different informationprocessing apparatus; and registration means for registering the mailaddress and the name as well as the ID and the password as informationfor acceptance of accessing from the user in response to theconfirmation by said confirmation means.
 15. An information processingmethod, characterized in that it comprises: a reception step ofreceiving, from a second information processing apparatus in whichpersonal information of a user of a first information processingapparatus is registered, a mail address and a name as well as an ID anda password of the user through a network; a control step of controllingsaid first information processing apparatus to display the mail addressand the name received by the process of the reception step forregistration of the user; a confirmation step of acquiring confirmationof the user with regard to registration of the user based on the mailaddress and the name displayed on said first information processingapparatus; and a registration step of registering the mail address andthe name as well as the ID and the password as information foracceptance of accessing from the user in response to the confirmation bythe process of the confirmation step.
 16. A recording medium on which acomputer-readable program is recorded, characterized in that the programcomprises: a reception step of receiving, from a second informationprocessing apparatus in which personal information of a user of a firstinformation processing apparatus is registered, a mail address and aname as well as an ID and a password of the user through a network; acontrol step of controlling said first information processing apparatusto display the mail address and the name received by the process of thereception step for registration of the user; a confirmation step ofacquiring confirmation of the user with regard to registration of theuser based on the mail address and the name displayed on said firstinformation processing apparatus; and a registration step of registeringthe mail address and the name as well as the ID and the password asinformation for acceptance of accessing from the user in response to theconfirmation by the process of the confirmation step.
 17. A program forcausing a computer to execute: a reception step of receiving, from asecond information processing apparatus in which personal information ofa user of a first information processing apparatus is registered, a mailaddress and a name as well as an ID and a password of the user through anetwork; a control step of controlling said first information processingapparatus to display the mail address and the name received by theprocess of the reception step for registration of the user; aconfirmation step of acquiring confirmation of the user with regard toregistration of the user based on the mail address and the namedisplayed on said first information processing apparatus; and aregistration step of registering the mail address and the name as wellas the ID and the password as information for acceptance of accessingfrom the user in response to the confirmation by the process of theconfirmation step.
 18. An information processing apparatus,characterized in that it comprises: reception means for receiving an IDthrough a network from a first different information processingapparatus in which personal information of a user is registered;production means for producing a table wherein an ID issued already by asecond different information processing apparatus is matched with the IDreceived by said reception means; first accessing means for accessingsaid first different information processing apparatus through saidnetwork based on the ID received from said first different informationprocessing apparatus; and second accessing means for converting, inorder to access said second different information processing apparatusthrough said network, the ID received from said first differentinformation processing apparatus into the ID issued from said seconddifferent information processing apparatus based on the table producedby said production means and accessing said second different informationprocessing apparatus with the ID obtained by the conversion.
 19. Aninformation processing method, characterized in that it comprises: areception step of receiving an ID through a network from a firstinformation processing apparatus in which personal information of a useris registered; a production step of producing a table wherein an IDissued already by a second information processing apparatus is matchedwith the ID received by the process of the reception step; a firstaccessing step of accessing said first information processing apparatusthrough said network based on the ID received from said firstinformation processing apparatus; and a second accessing step ofconverting, in order to access said second information processingapparatus through said network, the ID received from said firstinformation processing apparatus into the ID issued from said secondinformation processing apparatus based on the table produced by the stepof the production step and accessing said second different informationprocessing apparatus with the ID obtained by the conversion.
 20. Arecording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded,characterized in that the program comprises: a reception step ofreceiving an ID through a network from a first information processingapparatus in which personal information of a user is registered; aproduction step of producing a table wherein an ID issued already by asecond information processing apparatus is matched with the ID receivedby the process of the reception step; a first accessing step ofaccessing said first information processing apparatus through saidnetwork based on the ID received from said first information processingapparatus; and a second accessing step of converting, in order to accesssaid second information processing apparatus through said network, theID received from said first information processing apparatus into the IDissued from said second information processing apparatus based on thetable produced by the step of the production step and accessing saidsecond different information processing apparatus with the ID obtainedby the conversion.
 21. A program for causing a computer to execute: areception step of receiving an ID through a network from a firstinformation processing apparatus in which personal information of a useris registered; a production step of producing a table wherein an IDissued already by a second information processing apparatus is matchedwith the ID received by the process of the reception step; a firstaccessing step of accessing said first information processing apparatusthrough said network based on the ID received from said firstinformation processing apparatus; and a second accessing step ofconverting, in order to access said second information processingapparatus through said network, the ID received from said firstinformation processing apparatus into the ID issued from said secondinformation processing apparatus based on the table produced by the stepof the production step and accessing said second information processingapparatus with the ID obtained by the conversion.